Chaos as debate flares over brothel reform

The State Government's bid to overhaul WA's prostitution laws was immersed in confusion yesterday, after Premier Colin Barnett appeared to contradict his plans.

Mr Barnett told ABC radio yesterday morning that prostitution would be confined to "certain areas", then later told reporters that brothels would not be legalised in industrial areas.

"We recognise now there needs to be some regulation, containment of brothels," he said. "I find it distasteful - I think most people in Western Australia do. However, I'm not being prudish about it, I recognise that brothels have been around forever and that some people will use brothels I didn't say we're going to legalise brothels. This is a difficult area of legislation but I will not have words put in my mouth."

Shadow attorney-general John Quigley said the Premier's comments exposed "deep fractions" within the Liberal party given some backbenchers were behind a push to introduce the so-called Swedish model, which makes buying sex and brothel ownership illegal.

"Colin Barnett has adopted self contradictory positions because of the turmoil within the Liberal Party on this issue," he said.

"The Liberal party's policy was that a Liberal Government would have a small number of designated areas where a regulated system would be tolerated. However, a significant part of his backbench doesn't support that position."

Attorney-General Christian Porter said the Liberal-Nationals Government had a "mandate to prevent the proliferation of brothels in suburban and residential areas in Western Australia".

Despite Mr Barnett saying yesterday that legislation would be introduced into Parliament "in the second half of this year", Mr Porter said it was a "first term priority".

"The first (priority) is to ensure that no form of prostitution is permitted in suburban and residential areas, and that the limited number of premises which are tolerated elsewhere are appropriately located and subject to stringent regulation," he said.

"The second is to ensure that police are given the powers they need to act on complaints from members of the public, and to successfully investigate and prosecute individuals engaging in unpermitted prostitution."

Mr Quigley said Labor had struggled with the divisive issue but managed to get its plan to regulate 38 existing brothels through Parliament. He said the Swedish model would drive the industry underground.